Sex-Specific Risk Factors Associated with Helicobacter pylori Infection Among Individuals Undergoing Health Examinations in China

Abstract

Yumei Wu,1 Hui Zeng,2 Meiping Zhang,1 Chunyan Li,2 Yuanlin Tang,2 Xiufen Li,1 Shanyou Yuan,3 Qifeng Wei,3 Jinghua Wang,4 Xianjia Ning,4 Xiaoyin Zhang1 1Department of Gastroenterology, the Third People’s Hospital of Shenzhen, Shenzhen, Guangdong Province, People’s Republic of China; 2Department of Health Management, the Third People’s Hospital of Shenzhen, Shenzhen, Guangdong Province, People’s Republic of China; 3Department of Orthopedics, the Third People’s Hospital of Shenzhen, Shenzhen, Guangdong Province, People’s Republic of China; 4Centre of Clinical Epidemiology, the Third People’s Hospital of Shenzhen, Shenzhen, Guangdong Province, People’s Republic of ChinaCorrespondence: Xiaoyin Zhang, Department of Gastroenterology, the Third People’s Hospital of Shenzhen, 29 Bulan Road, Longgang District, Shenzhen, Guangdong Province, 518112, People’s Republic of China, Tel [phone], Fax [phone], Email [email protected] Xianjia Ning, Center of Clinical Epidemiology, the Third People’s Hospital of Shenzhen, 29 Bulan Road, Longgang District, Shenzhen, Guangdong Province, 518112, People’s Republic of China, Tel [phone], Fax [phone], Email [email protected]: Helicobacter pylori is one of the most common causes of peptic ulcers, gastritis, and gastric cancers. This study investigated sex-specific differences in the prevalence of H. pylori infection and its associated factors among individuals undergoing hospital-based health examinations in southern China.Methods: This study enrolled consecutive healthy individuals who underwent regular health examinations at a hospital physical examination center between September 2020 and September 2021. Anthropometric characteristics and biochemical profiles were measured. All individuals underwent carbon-13 urea breath tests. Univariate and multivariate analyses were used to evaluate the factors associated with H. pylori infection.Results: A total of 5035 individuals (men, 59.1%; women, 40.9%) were included in the analyses. The total rate of H. pylori infection was 35.0% (men, 35.5%; women, 34.3%). In the multivariate analysis, the risk factors identified for H. pylori infections were high fasting blood glucose levels and blood pressure ≥ 160 mmHg in men and older age, high body mass index, and low albumin levels in women.Conclusion: These findings suggest that physicians must be aware of the metabolic factors associated with H. pylori infections in the Chinese population. Early detection of these factors and timely intervention are expected to reduce H. pylori infections and provide a theoretical basis for the primary prevention of several gastrointestinal diseases.Keywords: Helicobacter pylori infection, gastrointestinal disease, sex differences, prevalence, metabolic factors

Keywords

• helicobacter pylori infection
• gastrointestinal disease
• sex differences
• prevalence
• metabolic factors.